Police ‘working nonstop’ to solve young teens’ double slaying

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2019 at 4:50 PMFeb 27, 2019 at 4:50 PM

Joe Goldeen Record Staff Writer @JoeGoldeen

STOCKTON — If they have learned anything new about last weekend’s double slaying of two teenage boys in north Stockton, police are not releasing that information publicly as they continue to seek the community’s help in piecing together what happened.

What they have said is that “homicide detectives have been working nonstop” since responding to the shooting deaths of 14-year-old Nicholas Sihalath of Stockton and 15-year-old Advan Vang of Sacramento just after midnight Sunday in the 7000 block of Montauban Avenue.

Nicholas was a freshman at Stockton’s Ronald E. McNair High School who had previously played with the South Stockton Vikings youth football team. Advan attended Samuel Jackman Middle School in Sacramento who once told his father that when he grew up, he wanted to become a police officer. Both boys loved fishing, especially with elder family members.

“Anytime there is a loss of life, that is tragic. But when two young people are killed by senseless gun violence, it’s just devastating,” police spokesman Officer Joe Silva said Wednesday.

“What is really frustrating, though, is that we still do not have a motive or any suspect information,” Silva said, restating investigators’ need for anyone with relevant information to step forward. And no one has provided information on why the boys were out so late at night.

What is known is that the boys were riding bicycles on Montauban between East Hammer Lane and Hammertown Drive. Several neighbors distinctly heard four shots just after midnight. When police arrived, they discovered both boys suffering from unspecified gunshot wounds. One died at the scene and the other died after being transported to an area hospital.

“Like anybody with a pulse, I am both distraught and very upset when two children are killed,” Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs said Wednesday.

“This is a reminder that despite the significant progress we have made and the 40 percent reduction in homicides last year, we have to keep our focus on keeping our community safe. I have been in close communication with the police chief over the past several days about this crime to see if there are any leads or motive,” he said.

“I urge the community to help us bring the murderer to justice,” Tubbs said. “Our condolences go out to the family, friends and surrounding community.”

Also on Wednesday, the Police Department’s Neighborhood Impact Team visited the area and met with concerned residents.

“The team, which consisted of members from the Public Information Office and two chaplains, passed out literature about how people can report any information they may have anonymously through Stockton Crime Stoppers,” Silva said.

Anyone with information about the case should call the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8377, the Investigations Unit at (209) 937-8323 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards up to $10,000. Callers can remain anonymous.

Cellphone users can text information to 274637 (CRIMES) by entering the keyword “TIPSPD” followed by their tip. Or they can use the Stockton Police Department mobile phone app and also remain anonymous. Internet users can visit the Police Department’s Facebook page and click “Submit a Tip.”